Director, Vulnerable Adults & Complex Care Pathways

Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Lower Blandford St Mary; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust invites applications for Head of Vulnerable Adults & Complex Pathways. You will provide strategic and operational leadership for vulnerable adults, mental health and complex care pathways, working with executive teams to transform services and deliver person-centred care that improves safety, quality and outcomes.

The role requires proven senior healthcare leadership, strong communication, influential collaboration across partners, and a track

Qualifications

• Master’s level qualification or equivalent experience.
• Significant senior leadership experience in healthcare, social care, safeguarding, mental health or complex care services.
• Proven track record of service transformation, quality improvement and partnership working.
• Experience of operational, workforce and financial management.
• Excellent leadership, communication and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide corporate leadership for Mental Health, strategic oversight of the MCA, and leadership across system partnerships to deliver integrated pathways for vulnerable adults.
• Be accountable for all aspects of service delivery, ensuring care is safe, effective, responsive, and aligned to Trust priorities, CQC standards, and system objectives.
• Provide highly visible, credible, and authoritative clinical leadership for nursing and AHP teams, promoting professional excellence, evidence-based practice, and improved patient outcomes.
• Ensure services are effective, well-coordinated, and responsive to evolving needs of patients with mental health conditions, driving innovation and continuous quality improvement.
• Lead partnership working across the Integrated Care System (ICS), collaborating with community providers, local authority partners, mental health trusts and the voluntary sector to deliver integrated, person-centered pathways and improve population health outcomes.
• Contribute at place and system level to shared strategic priorities, ensuring seamless pathways and patient flow across acute, community, and mental health services.
• Provide senior leadership for safeguarding and MCA practice, ensuring robust systems, compliance with legislation, and assurance to the Trust Board and external regulators.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strategic mindset

Communication skills

Influencing skills

Professional registration

Education

Master’s degree or equivalent

Job description

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust invites applications for Head of Vulnerable Adults & Complex Pathways. You will provide strategic and operational leadership for vulnerable adults, mental health and complex care pathways, working with executive teams to transform services and deliver person-centred care that improves safety, quality and outcomes.

The role requires proven senior healthcare leadership, strong communication, influential collaboration across partners, and a track